Voice of Reason, 3rd September

Sep 3 2010 by Stuart Wilson, Ayrshire Post (main ed)

TWO home games in a week.

Two horrendous performances.

Yet somehow, Ayr United have scraped four points.

Pretty incredible really, but it says a lot about this Second Division.

The nick of this place is far from impressive.

So let’s get aboard the Boogie Bus and head for the Alba Challenge Cup.

Quarter-final time at Firhill on Saturday in a competition we are destined to win.

Why? It’s our centenary year – and Partick are playing even worse than us.

Silverware is heading for Somerset Park, of that there is no doubt.

So let’s get up to Glasgow in numbers. The big time is looming.

nSO cricket is in disgrace. A bloke takes 150 big ones in a hotel, a few no-balls are bowled, and all hell breaks loose.

But a few points are worth noting here.

Take Mohammad Amir. One of the accused.

On the very day he allegedly sent down a couple of dodgy deliveries, he took four wickets in the space of eight balls.

And became the youngest player in the history of the game to reach 50 Test wickets.

You could say the lad was putting a bit of effort in.

Did he take some cash to bowl a couple of no-balls? Perhaps.

Is that wrong? Most definitely.

But tell me how that differs from highly paid cheats who dive around penalty boxes the world over?

There’s no question this incident has shamed cricket.

But far more serious is the allegation that Pakistan were due to throw an actual game later this summer.

Let’s get to the bottom of this – and quickly.

nYOU have to wonder when Ayr Rugby Club will start getting their props?

No pun intended.

The VoR, by admission, is not a huge fan of the egg chasing.

But I know enough to realise this mob are good. And have been for some time.

Another two wins to start this season and the title chase is on again.

It appears, though, that the balance of oval ball power lies elsewhere in this country.

And the Millbrae boys are viewed as something of upstarts.

Poor show rugby fans.

nTHE cream is already rising to the top in betting corner.

Cricketing God Allan Haggo has been joined in the driving seat by yours truly on two points.

Iain Ferguson has, naturally, still to rise from his pit on a big fat zero.

But as the racing tycoon proved last season, this is a marathon, not a sprint.

This year’s Ayr Racecourse-sponsored challenge features three giants of the Ayrshire sporting scene.

But it’s been a poor start from the field, let’s be honest.

This week, Haggo bowls something of a no-ball (legitimate of course) with Andorra 0, Russia 4.

Fergie says Tranmere 0, Peterborough 2.

I’ll stay ahead of the game with Chesterfield 2, Lincoln 1.